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“House of the Rising Sun” by The Animals is a well-known folk song that has been adapted into a blues ballad with a haunting quality. The verse chord progression features a combination of minor and major chords that contribute to its emotional intensity, while also creating a sense of tension and resolution.

“House of the Rising Sun” by The Animals is a folk-rock song in A minor that features a distinct and memorable chord progression in its coda. By incorporating rhythmic and dynamic elements in their rendition, The Animals managed to popularize the song, making it one of their best-known hits.

The song “Penny Lane” written by the Beatles is in the key of A major. The structure of Verse 4, specifically, has a very effective use of both diatonic (belonging naturally to the key) and borrowed chords (taken from a different key or mode). They have incorporated secondary dominants, pivot modulation, and modal interchange which reflect their knowledge of musical theory and compositional skills.

“Can’t Buy Me Love,” a song by The Beatles, exhibits a style that’s emblematic of their earlier work, with a clear, upbeat tonality and an elegant yet straightforward chord progression. The tune is predominantly centred in the key of C major, but it utilizes both major and dominant 7th chords to create tension and resolution, modulating away from the home key. The particular progression you’ve given, ‘C7’, ‘F7’, ‘C’, isn’t rare and demonstrates the Beatles’ precision and understanding of pop and rock music’s creative possibilities.

The provided chord progression is quite simple, with a single chord (F) repeated four times. This type of progression creates a static or stable feel, with no harmonic tension to resolve. This chord progression alone isn’t enough to give a complete musical analysis, as it’s quite minimalistic, and it’s necessary to evaluate the progression in the context of the entire song. However, I can still offer some thoughts on the progression’s possible function, style notes, and similar chord progressions.

The Animals – House Of The Rising Sun – Verse 4

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Chord Progression

Am, C, D, F, Am, C, E, E, Am, C, D, F, Am, E, Am, C, D, F, Am, E, Am, E

Chord Progression Analysis

A minor (i), C major (III), D major (IV), F major (VI), A minor (i), C major (III), E major (V), E major (V), A minor (i), C major (III), D major (IV), F major (VI), A minor (i), E major (V), A minor (i), C major (III), D major (IV), F major (VI), A minor (i), E major (V), A minor (i), E major (V)

Similar Chord Progressions

1. “Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin:
A minor (i), C major (III), D major (IV), D major (IV) and F major (VI)

2. “Wicked Game” by Chris Isaak:
B minor (i), A major (VI), E major (V), and G major (VII)

3. “Minor Thing” by Red Hot Chili Peppers:
A minor (i), C major (III), D major (IV), and G major (VII)

These songs feature chord progressions that also utilize the i-III-IV-VI sequence, with some variations. It’s worth noting that all of these songs showcase the impact and distinct character that the progression brings, emphasizing the emotional depth and versatility of this sequence.

Musical Analysis

The verse 4 chord progression in “House of the Rising Sun” is primarily based on the i-III-IV-VI harmonic sequence. This progression is unique for its inclusion of the D major (IV) chord, which is a borrowed chord from the parallel major key, A major. The E major (V) chords played throughout the progression create a feeling of tension and resolution that is characteristic of a minor key.

Overall Analysis

“House of the Rising Sun” by The Animals is a traditional folk song arranged by the British rock band in 1964. The song is known for its distinct and haunting minor sound, which has become one of the most famous examples of a minor key in popular music. The chord progression features a mix of diatonic and non-diatonic chords that add variety and interest to the music.

Style Analysis

This piece’s style is a fusion of folk, blues, and British rock. The chord progression’s focus on minor tonality and the open, arpeggiated nature of the guitar playing add to the folk aspect. The influence of the blues can be seen in the use of borrowed chords and the distinctive melodic phrasing. Meanwhile, the British rock elements come through in the band’s electric instrumentation and their signature rhythm.

Chords in the Verse 4 section of House Of The Rising Sun by The Animals are:

Am, C, D, F, Am, C, E, E, Am, C, D, F, Am, E, Am, C, D, F, Am, E, Am, E